A Farewell from Bootleg Betty




A Farewell from Bootleg Betty

Dear Friends and Fellow Fans,

As I turn 70 this year, I find myself at a crossroads where it’s time to embrace new chapters in my life, focusing on my health and pursuing other interests patiently waiting in the wings. With a heart full of gratitude and a touch of nostalgia, I announce my retirement from Bootleg Betty, a labor of love I’ve nurtured for 22 wonderful years.

This weblog, dedicated to the one and only Bette Midler, has been more than just a site; it has been a vibrant community where our mutual admiration for Bette’s talent, wit, and humanity has flourished. Thank you for being part of this journey and for your readership, comments, and shared passion. Each visit and each interaction has meant the world to me, reinforcing the idea that we’re all part of something special.

Your support has been the backbone of Bootleg Betty. You’ve made this site a treasure trove of memories, insights, and laughter, reflecting the very essence of what Bette Midler brings to our lives. To say that you’ve been invaluable would be an understatement; you’ve been the heart and soul of this endeavor.

As I step back, I want to reassure you that the love for Bette Midler doesn’t end here. There are numerous platforms where you can continue to follow her illustrious career and connect with other fans. Bette’s legacy continues to thrive, whether on Facebook, Instagram or through various news outlets and social media sites.

I encourage you to keep the spirit of our community alive by engaging with each other in these spaces. Share your stories and memories, and continue celebrating Bette’s contributions to music, film, theatre, and activism.

Thank you for everything. You’ve given me joy, inspiration, and a sense of belonging. As I move forward, I take the warmth of our shared moments with me, and I’ll always cherish the community we built together.

Here’s to new beginnings for all of us and to Bette Midler, who will forever be our Divine Miss M.

With all my love and gratitude,

Don Bradshaw a.k.a. Mister D
Bette Midler: Bootlegbetty.com

Share A little Divinity

34 thoughts on “A Farewell from Bootleg Betty

  1. I want to wish you a wonderful retirement from this site. I will miss seeing your posts and all the wonderful memories you’ve shared over the years. Congrats and thank you!

  2. Nnnooooooo!!!!!! I respect your decision and I do understand, but I am truly sad!!! You have been a great host to all things Bette with spectacular pictures and relevant information. You will be missed dearly but enjoy your life.

    P.S. Any suggestions on reputable sites for Bette info?

  3. Wishing you all the best! Thank you for your hard work and dedication in keeping us all informed and entertained with all things Bette. Enjoy retirement!!

  4. I love you so much. I love the friendships you fostered for.me all of the years.

    I love the joy you bring

    I love you, Don. I wish you every kindness and happiness.

    Forever, Divine Grace.

    Bye, but just for now.

  5. I have followed this site for the entire 22 years and looked forward your daily updates no matter the topic.. I was fortunate to meet you years ago at Hulaween when I first started attending, and this year was my 22nd year supportingthe wonderful event. Just wanted to say thank you for all the wonderful information and gossip you have shared from one Bettehead to another! Goodbyes are never easy and this one is especially difficult because this site and your work was like comfort food for fellow enthusiasts! If you ever want to pass the baton feel free to send it my way where it will continue with utmost love and respect for the Divine! Hope retirement suits you well and you are able to enjoy the fruits of your labor! Thank you for all you did to keep us informed and laughing along the way! Cheers from a true Bettehead! We are all grateful for all of you hard work and dedication!

    Take Care, ‘
    A Huaween Costume Champion!
    Jon

  6. What an end to a wonderful era! I found this site while in college and 21 years later I visited it every single day more than once. It’s hard to put into words what this site means to so many of us. It provided a community for us Betteheads! It’s been a pleasure and I will miss it tremendously. But more importantly, I will miss the humanity of the man who ran it. He, as it so wonderfully said by our Bette, is the wind beneath our wings…well he is. Other sites may exist, but they will always be just fan sites and not a place that allows for a collective joy and celebration of not only Bette but of all of us. Her wins, her losses, her achievements, her accomplishments all shared on this page allowed us all to shine and have hope. Congratulations Mr D on your extraordinary journey and thank you for all the lives you touched because of this site. You will never know how greatly it was appreciated. I hope retirement brings you the chance to do whatever it is that you always wanted to do but didn’t get around to. All the best! And many of us will still be checking this site daily due to old habits, so if you ever want to post and give us an update on the Divine Mr D, you Don, we will be looking.

    Take care,
    Jill

  7. Devastating, but that is selfish. Thank you for the years of fabulousness and all of your dedication. You will be missed beyond belief but I wish you nothing but the happiness and health that you deserve.
    Tons of love and leave knowing that you have made our love of Bette all the more enjoyable.

  8. It has been a pleasure to have had this site for 22yrs! I remember discovering bootlegbetty when I was 15 and how it felt like I’d just opened Aladdin’s cave….the treasures you’ve put together over the years have brought me so much joy and laughter and I’ve met some wonderful people! I cannot thank you enough for all your hard work and dedication Mr D. Much love to you and I hope that you’ll keep in touch through your own social media etc Thanks again from the yUK 😉 xxx

  9. This is very sad news indeed. I have so enjoyed this site through the years and will certainly miss your posts and updates. But I know it takes a lot of work keep up such a well-maintained site, so it makes totally sense to turn away from the labor of it all. You and it will be very missed, however.

  10. A little tear falls down my cheek… but I totally get it. Even as Bette has admitted, nothing lasts forever.
    This site is a treasure trove of information about the incredible cultural figure that is the Divine. Please tell me you will leave it up as an archive. Maybe fill up the jukebox with all the amazing recordings you can’t find anywhere else?
    Would you ever consider passing it on to another?

  11. Dear Don, thank you so very much for your commitment, passion and love! I have visited your site on a daily basis for close to twenty years and I always felt wonderfully connected and understood in our mutual admiration for Bette‘s various talents.
    I wish you all the best for the next chapter; health, wealth, love and whatever your heart desires.
    I will miss you.
    Cheers from Zurich!

  12. Mister D,

    I will miss you immensely. You’ve done such a terrific job with this website, and for Bette over the last couple decades, that it’s almost unimaginable to not be checking in on a daily basis. I realize, life goes on and wish you tremendous success in all your future endeavors. I can think of no one that has displayed the dedication, inspiration, loyalty and commitment to Bette, than you have shown over the years. You are among a rare breed of professionals, and your absence here will be like a gut-punch.

    Wishing you the very best, and hope we can still, in some way manage to stay in touch. It is an honor to know you.

    –Ron
    xoxo

  13. Unfortunately it looks like both you and the Divine One are retiring. I’m a hardcore fan, and it is sad to think there may be no more recordings or appearances … but that’s what you always kept abreast of: advance word that she was going to sing. Now, I’ll be adrift a bit, not knowing the latest, and not being prepared. I’ll forever miss Bette, and I may miss you most of all.

  14. I haven’t interacted very regularly, but I found this site when I was 17 years old, & it was an absolute staple for me, as it has continued to be. Thank you so much for all your hard work, dedication, & love you poured into this, thank you for helping foster my love of the Divine Miss M.

    I wish you all the very best, Mr. D. You deserve it!

  15. I will miss this place! I will never forget Hulaween 2003 where we met in person. You’re now a Facebook Friend so this isn’t goodbye! Love you Nr. D!! Thanks!!!

  16. Just saw your letter, Mr. D. I can’t tell you how your site has pulled me through some rough times, especially recently. Thank you for all your hard work and diligence in keeping us up to date on all things Bette.
    I wish you great health, prosperity and much love!
    Martin in La La Land

    1. Well, Martin really appreciate that but I’ve pulled farewell Cher tour performance. I just can’t quite give it up. I’m going to cut out social media and stick to the website and go at a slower pace. Thanks again for the kind words. Love, Don

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